Low voltage high performance semiconductor devices and methods

ABSTRACT

A method for adjusting V t  while minimizing parasitic capacitance fiord low voltage high speed semiconductor devices. The method uses shadow effects and an angled punch through prevention implant between vertical structures to provide a graded implant. The implant angle is greater than or equal to arc tangent of S/H where S is the horizontal distance between, and H is the height of, such vertical structures.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/132,904, filed Aug. 12, 1998, entitled “LOW VOLTAGE HIGH PERFORMANCE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AND METHODS,” the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to low voltage, high performance semiconductor devices, such as MOS transistors for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells and logic applications, and to methods for fabricating such devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for adjusting threshold voltage for high speed semiconductor transistor devices without the need for any additional masks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

MOS processes typically begin with a lightly-doped P-type or N-type silicon substrate. For the sake of simplicity, the conventional MOS process will be described using P-type silicon as the starting material. If N-type silicon were used, the process steps would be virtually identical, with the exception that the dopant types would be reversed.

Silicon, the most commonly used semiconductor material can be made conductive by doping (introducing an impurity into the silicon crystal structure) with either an element such as boron, which has one less valence electron than silicon, or with elements such as phosphorus or arsenic, which have one more valence electron than silicon.

In the case of boron doping, electron “holes” become the charge carriers and the doped silicon is referred to as positive or P-type silicon. In the case of phosphorus or arsenic doping, the additional electrons become the charge carriers and the doped silicon is referred to as negative or N-type silicon. If dopants of opposite type conductivity are used, counter-doping will result, and the conductivity type of the most abundant impurity will prevail.

The P-well regions are oxidized using a conventional LOCOS (LOCal Oxidation of Silicon) step to create a silicon oxide layer. During the LOCOS process, the pad oxide serves as a stress relief layer. Alternatively, oxide growth and oxide deposition steps over silicon trench can replace the LOCOS step.

The channel regions of the future N-channel transistors are then exposed to a high-energy boron punch-through implant. This implant increases both source-to-drain breakdown voltage and the threshold voltage (V_(t)), thus avoiding short-channel effects. The successful operation of MOS circuits is very dependent on the ability to control threshold voltage (V_(t)). The threshold voltage (V_(t)) of a transistor is the voltage necessary for turning the transistor on or off. Accurate control of V_(t) is made possible by ion implantation. V, adjustment implantation into the channel usually takes place through a sacrificial gate oxide, before the growth of a gate oxide and deposition of the polysilicon for the gate electrodes.

In conventional MOS processes, after V_(t) adjustment a layer of polysilicon is then deposited on top of the gate oxide using conventional means (e.g., chemical vapor deposition). The poly layer is then doped with phosphorus, and coated with a layer of tungsten silicide by various possible techniques (e.g., chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, or evaporation). A further photomask then patterns the silicide-coated polysilicon layer to form the transistor gates.

The N-channel source and drain regions are next is exposed to a relatively low-dosage phosphorus implant which creates lightly-doped drain (LDD) N-regions. Following the stripping of this mask, a layer of silicon dioxide or nitride is deposited on the wafer. An anisotropic etch and a subsequent optional isotropic etch of the silicon dioxide layer leave oxide spacers on the sides of each transistor gate.

A photomask then exposes the source and drain regions to a relatively high-dosage phosphorus or arsenic implant, which creates heavily-doped N+regions. A photomask is then used to define contacts which will pass through an isolation oxide, e.g., BPSG glass, layer to the poly structures or active area conductive regions below. A deposition of an aluminum metal layer follows. Another photomask is then used to pattern the aluminum layer for circuit interconnects. Using a blanket deposition process, the circuitry is then covered with one or more passivation layers. An additional photomask then defines bonding pad openings, which will expose bonding pad regions on the aluminum layer below. This completes a conventional MOS process.

The business of producing semiconductor devices is a very competitive, high-volume business. Process efficiency and manufacturability, as well as product quality, reliability, and performance (speed) are key factors that determine success or failure. Each new generation of devices is expected to be faster and more compact than the generation it replaces.

In low voltage design, low threshold voltage (V_(t)) is essential since the current drive is proportional to (V_(g)−V_(t)) where V_(g) is the gate voltage. Because very precise quantities of impurity can be introduced using ion implantation, it is possible to maintain close control of V_(t). A problem arises, however, in connection with ion implantation for punch through prevention in such devices. Implanting a boron dopant, for example, for punch through prevention increases V_(t), and creates a barrier layer at the junction between the N+type source and drain regions and the underlying P-type substrate, thus increasing parasitic capacitance at this junction. This parasitic capacitance reduces the speed of the device.

A method is needed for adjusting V_(t), while minimizing parasitic capacitance and without introducing any additional photomasking steps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a low voltage, high speed semiconductor transistor device having low V_(t) and reduced parasitic capacitance. Reduction in parasitic capacitance, and hence increase in speed, is achieved by shadowing out an angled punch through prevention ion implant between a transistor gate and adjacent structures to shadow out a portion of the implant. The resulting, minimally diffused implant results in a relatively lighter dose toward the edge of the transistor gate than the central regions of the source and drain, thus reducing V_(t) and parasitic junction capacitance in those regions. The low V_(t) and reduced parasitic capacitance devices may be produced together with higher V_(t) devices elsewhere on the chip without any additional masking steps to make the low V_(t) devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a semiconductor wafer fragment at one processing step in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the FIG. 1 wafer taken at a step subsequent to that shown by FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the formation of actual gate, and dummy gate (or poly runners over field oxide), structures at a predetermined height (H) and spacing (S). FIG. 2 also shows formation of a lightly doped drain LDD between such structures.

FIG. 3 is a view of the FIG. 1 wafer taken at a step subsequent to that shown by FIG. 2, and shows self-aligned formation of source and drain regions.

FIG. 4 is a view of the FIG. 1 wafer taken at a step subsequent to that shown by FIG. 3, and shows spacering of actual gate, and dummy gates (or poly runners over field oxide), and angled implant for punch through prevention. FIG. 4 also shows a gradation in the P-N junction region of the active area as a result of the shadow effects caused by the angled implant and the structures at distances H and S.

FIG. 5 is a view of the FIG. 1 wafer taken at a step subsequent to that shown by FIG. 4, and shows one method of contact formation to source and drain regions.

FIG. 6 is a view of the FIG. 1 wafer taken at a step subsequent to that shown by FIG. 4, and shows an alternative method of contact formation to source and drain regions.

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment showing a view of the FIG. 1 wafer taken at a step subsequent to FIG. 1, and shows formation of a lightly doped drain and angled implant for punch through prevention, both prior to spacering of actual gate and dummy gates (or poly runners).

FIG. 8 depicts examples of various circuits containing both low V_(t) devices and high or normal V_(t) devices according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The figures are not meant to be actual cross-sectional views of any particular portion of a real semiconductor device, but are merely convenient tools employed to more fully depict the process aspect of the invention at various stages of manufacture.

The term “substrate” herein shall be understood to mean one or more semiconductive layers or structures which include active or operable portions of semiconductor devices.

An exemplary construction of a fabrication process for a low voltage semiconductor transistor device according to one embodiment of the present invention is described below. It is to be understood, however, that this process is only one example of many possible processes. For example, the angled V_(t) adjustment implant is shadowed out by a transistor gate and a dummy gate in the following process. A series of actual gates, interconnect structures and actual, or dummy, gates, poly runners or other structures could also be used. As another example, additional implant steps may be employed to optimize impurity profiles in particular regions, and the sequence of implant steps could be changed so long as the punch through prevention implant is carried out after one or more structures are deposited and subsequently patterned with sufficient height and sufficiently small spacing to shadow out the angled implant.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first pad oxide layer 11 is grown on lightly-doped P-type silicon substrate 12. Silicon substrate 12 is isolated into active region 10 by field oxide regions 13. LOCal Oxidation of Silicon (LOCOS), shallow trench isolation (STI) or other field isolation techniques known in the art are used to provide oxide regions 13 for patterning silicon substrate 12 into active region 10. As an example of an STI process, a silicon nitride layer (not shown) can be deposited on a silicon dioxide layer which is previously thermally grown on silicon substrate 12. The silicon nitride layer is patterned such that the silicon nitride layer remains only on active region 10. A silicon trench is then etched to a depth of typically 2-3 times the junction depth of the devices, i.e., about 0.20 to 0.40 micron. The silicon sidewalls and trench bottom are then oxidized to a thickness of about 100-200 angstroms to serve as a liner. Then a high conformal oxide deposition is performed to fill both the trench and the wide open field area. The oxide is subsequently planarized by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to the level of the nitride underneath, to expose the nitride. The STI process is preferred in the method of the present invention due to the greater degree of flatness or planarity which it provides.

Referring to FIG. 2, after isolation of active region 10, gate structure 18 which includes polycrystalline silicon 14, an overlying silicide layer 15 such as tungsten silicide or other highly conductive materials, and an insulating cap 16, preferably SiO₂ or Si₃N₄, are formed using conventional semiconductor gate processing techniques. In FIG. 2 gate structure 18 is the actual transistor gate above active region 10. Gate structures 26 above field oxide regions 13 are dummy gates or poly runners. Dummy gates 26 are preferably formed at the same time and using the same steps as used for formation of gate structure 18. The height (H) of deposited polycrystalline silicon 14, silicide 15 and cap 16 (with optional spacer material) is the desired final height of gate structure 18 and dummy gate structures 26 for the semiconductor device. This height (H) is preferably greater than conventional gate structures so as to facilitate the shadow effects of the angled implant to adjust V_(t) in subsequent steps. Patterned photoresist is used as an etch mask in forming gate structure 18 and dummy gates 26. In FIG. 2, the patterned photoresist has been removed.

Referring still to FIG. 2, after formation of gate structure 18, a conventional self-aligning lightly doped (LDD) implant 20 is performed to form lightly doped regions 17 as shown. For N-channel semiconductor devices, the LDD implant 20 is an N-type dopant. For a P-channel device, the LDD implant is a P-type dopant.

The implant energy of the LDD implant 20 is sufficient to penetrate the exposed portion of active region 10 but not sufficient to penetrate active region 10 under gate structure 18. Thus, gate structure 18 serves as an implant mask to block the LDD implant 20. In LDD region 17, the implant energy of the LDD implant 20 controls the peak concentration depth. Lightly doped drain region 17 reduces the electric field of the semiconductor device by grading the doping level of active region 10. This doping level gradation is discussed below in connection with FIG. 4.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, a patterned photoresist may optionally be used to prevent self-aligning LDD implant 20 from penetrating other active regions which do not require the implant. The photoresist covered active regions include those used for semiconductor devices with a channel of a different conductivity type compared to that of the semiconductor device of gate structure 18 or to block certain species from being implanted into the memory array. The patterned photoresist is removed after performing LDD implant 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, LDD implant 20 is followed by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of oxide or nitride to create a spacer oxide layer 19 having a thickness in the range of 200 to 2000 angstroms, depending upon device geometry. Spacer oxide layer 19 is then etched with an anisotropic etch, to form a set of sidewall spacers 19 for transistor gates 18. Spacer oxide layer 19 coats the sides of transistor gate 18, so that when the wafer is subsequently subjected to an N-type implant, N-type source/drain regions are created for N-channel devices, and these N-type source/drain regions are offset from the vertical boundaries of LDD implant regions 17 by the vertical segments of spacer oxide layer 19 on the edge of the N-channel transistor gates 18.

Referring still to FIG. 3, a high-dosage arsenic or phosphorus implant then creates self-aligned heavily doped N-type source/drain regions 23 for N-channel devices. The high-dosage implant is self-aligned to the edges of the N-channel transistor gate 18.

FIG. 3 depicts self-aligning implant 22 performed after formation of gate structure 18 and oxide spacer 19. The self-alignment of implant 22 is particularly preferred for small geometry devices. Implant 22 introduces dopant into active region 10 to overlap LDD region 17 to form source and drain regions 23. To form semiconductor devices with an N-channel, dopant 22 is a dopant having an N-type conductivity such as phosphorous, arsenic, or the like. Dopant 22 is, of course, of a different conductivity type than that of the substrate to form a semiconductor device with a channel of the different conductivity type.

The implant energy of dopant 22 during implant 22 is sufficient to penetrate active region 10 in source and drain region 23, i.e., the implant energy is preferably low to form shallow junctions. Gate structure 18 serves as an implant mask to block implant 22. In source and drain region 23, the implant energy of dopant 22 controls the depth of the peak concentration of implant 22. An additional implant can be used to optimize the dopant profile of source and drain region 23.

As depicted in FIG. 3, a portion of source and drain region 23 will exist underneath a portion of spacer 19, in that a portion of LDD region 17 exists underneath a portion of gate structure 18 since the LDD implant is performed prior to the formation of spacer 19. Thus, a portion of LDD region 17 is converted into source and drain region 23 by implant 22. LDD region 17 and source and drain region 23 are of the same conductivity type. As shown in FIG. 3, spacer 19 is used to block implant 22 from completely overlapping LDD region 17. Since the dose of implant 22 is higher than the dose of the LDD implant, the doping concentration of source and drain region 23 is higher than the doping concentration of LDD region 17, and the doping concentration of LDD region 17 does not significantly affect the doping concentration of source and drain region 23. Source and drain region 23 has a higher N-type doping concentration, and LDD region 17 has a lower N-type doping concentration. A portion of the original LDD region exists to provide a graded doping concentration to reduce the electric field in active region 10 to increase the breakdown voltage of the semiconductor device.

Referring to FIG. 4, after formation of source and drain regions 23, the wafer is subjected to angled low-dosage boron implant 21, using a mask which is usually the same mask as the N+source/drain mask, to serve as an N-channel punch through voltage enhancement, creating punch through implant regions 24 that extend to the edges of transistor gate 18 and dummy gate 26. Punch through prevention implant 21 introduces dopant into active region 10, and may increase V_(t) of small devices by as much as several hundred mVs. To form a semiconductor device with an N-channel, the implanted dopant 21 is a dopant having a P-type conductivity such as boron. Dopant 21 is of a different conductivity type to prevent punch through in a channel of the different conductivity type. A P-type dopant is implanted into an N-channel device to prevent punch through. Similarly, an N-type dopant, such as phosphorous, can be implanted into an N-channel device to adjust the threshold voltage in a negative direction.

In conventional silicon processing, the threshold voltage adjustment implant is performed prior to formation of gatestructure 18 and spacer 19. In the process of the present invention, the gate structure serves as a mask for the angled implant 21, and the implant 22 (FIG. 3) which creates the source and drain regions.

Although implant 21 is a different conductivity type than implant 22, the implant dose of implant 22 is approximately 3 orders of magnitude higher than the implant dose of implant 21. Therefore, although P-type punch through prevention implant 21 is implanted into N-type source and drain region 23, the lower concentration of P-type dopant 21 does not significantly affect the higher concentration of N-type dopant 22. A similar effect is observed if implant 21 uses an N-type dopant.

Implant 21 is performed at a boron implant dose of approximately 2×10¹¹ to 8×10¹³ atoms/cm² and an implant energy of approximately 10 to100 keV, preferably about 40 to 60 keV.

Punch through prevention implants typically create a higher concentration P-type region below the N-type source and drain regions than created in the channel region under gate structures, and thus increase source and drain junction capacitances. This increase in P-N junction capacitance degrades speed and power performance. In order to overcome this problem, the method of the present invention uses an angled implant 21 in which the relatively tall (H) gate structures partially shadow out implant 21. When the implant angle φ is between 5° and 45° as shown in FIG. 4, and the gate or other structures are sufficiently high so that the implant angle is preferably slightly greater than Arc tangent S/H, where S is the horizontal distance between gate structure 18 and dummy gates 26 (or other structures), only a thin layer of boron is created in region 24 below the source and drain regions. However, a somewhat higher dose of boron is implanted in outer regions 25 of the source and drain. Only about one-half of the usual dose is implanted in the central region 24 of the source and drain because, due to four rotational implants (one for each 90° rotation of the substrate), only two directions are implanted. Due to the four rotational implants, and depending upon the angle φ and distances (H) and (S), three directions can be implanted into outer regions 25. As a result of the angled implant 21 and shadow effects, the V_(t) is about 200-300 mv lower than would be achieved without the shadow effects and, more importantly, the junction capacitance between the source to substrate and drain to substrate is reduced, thus increasing device speed. Various different angles, and distances (H) and (S) can be employed in the method of the invention, so long as at least a portion of the implant is shadowed out resulting in gradation of the implanted dopant concentration.

Implants 21 and 22 are subsequently annealed to activate implanted dopants 21 and 22, respectively. The high temperature anneal or rapid thermal anneal is preferably of a short time duration to prevent dopant diffusion associated with long diffusion anneals and to eliminate problems associated with dopant diffusion.

Referring now to FIG. 5, conventional processing technology may be used to complete the circuitry. Preferably all structures are first covered by an oxide isolation layer (not shown), which may be doped with phosphorus, boron or both. In FIG. 5, a photomask (not shown) has been used to define contacts 28 from metal layer 31 through oxide isolation layer through which connection to poly plug structures 27 and active area conductive regions below can be made. FIG. 5 shows buried digit line 29 as one preferred embodiment. For example, referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment is shown which utilizes a self-aligned contact etch for tungsten metal contacts 30. Various processing steps known in the art can be used to complete the circuitry.

Additional variations of the present invention include interchanging the processing order of source and drain implant 22 and punch through prevention implant 21. In addition, the implant 21 can be formed together with the LDD implant step before spacer formation. FIG. 7 illustrates process steps in this alternative embodiment. Furthermore, the semiconductor manufacturing process embodied in the present invention to produce MOS semiconductor transistor devices can also be used to produce MESFET, CMOS, and BiCMOS devices.

One advantage of the present invention is that low V_(t) devices may be made on a chip containing normal or high V_(t) devices without the need for any additional masking step. The invention thus lends itself well to various applications in which low voltage devices are minority devices on a given chip. These applications, include, for example, NMOS pass transistor devices (FIG. 8A), pre-charge circuits (FIG. 8B) and output drivers (FIG. 8C). With reference to FIG. 8A, V_(TL) represents a low threshold voltage device, which preferably has a low V_(t) so as to maximize output level at VO, due to the V_(t) drop. Voltage V₁ after a pass transistor is preferably high to have good drive on the device M1. The smaller the V_(t), the lower the drop. With reference to FIG. 8B, the node 1 voltage of the pre-charge circuit V_(PR) is preferably high so that it can properly drive the subsequent driver. Accordingly, a V_(TL) device is provided between V_(PR) and node 1. FIG. 8C shows another circuit in which the output is a V_(t) drop away from the input voltage V_(cc). Given the disclosure and teachings of the present invention, these and various other circuits can now be conveniently made with both low V_(t) and high V_(t) devices without additional or complex processing steps.

Although several embodiments of the improved process have been described herein, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. The same process flow could be used to create P-channel and N-channel devices on a lightly-doped N-type substrate (arsenic or phosphorus-doped silicon having a conductivity opposite to that of the lightly-doped P-type substrate used to begin the process described in detail heretofore). In such a case, a P-well, rather than an N-well would be created in the substrate, and so forth. Moreover, the process approach explained herein was in the context of a single actual gate, but any structure may be utilized to shadow out the punch through prevention implant. Preferably, such structures are of sufficient height (H) and spacing (S) such that the implant angle is greater than or equal to arc tangent S/H. The structures may include, for example, an actual gate for one device and an adjacent actual gate of another device, or an actual gate for one device and an interconnect structure such as a poly runner for that same or another device.

Accordingly, the above description and accompanying drawings are only illustrative of preferred embodiments which can achieve and provide the objects, features and advantages of the present invention. It is not intended that the invention be limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail herein. The invention is only limited by the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a semiconductor substrate having an active region; a gate structure on said active region; at least one second structure spaced apart from said gate structure; source and drain regions within said active region and adjacent to said gate structure, said source and drain regions being of a first conductive type, each having a width with terminal ends and a center point; and a punch through prevention implant dopant of a second conductivity type forming a barrier between at least one of said source and drain regions and the underlying substrate, said barrier being grade such that the dopant concentration increase along said width from said center point toward said terminal ends of said at least one source and drain region.
 2. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second structure comprises a dummy gate.
 3. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second structure comprises at least one poly runner.
 4. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said source or drain region is between said gate structure and said second structure.
 5. A semiconductor device according to claim 4, comprising at least two second structures, wherein one is on either side of the gate structure and said source and drain are between said gate and second structures.
 6. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said gate structure and said at least one second structure are substantially the same height.
 7. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein said barrier thickness increases towards said at least one second structure and decreases away from said second structure toward the central region of said source or drain.
 8. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein said device is a CMOS transistor.
 9. A semiconductor transistor device, comprising: a gate structure over an active region of a substrate, said gate structure having a first height; at least one second structure spaced apart from said gate structure by a first distance, and said at least one second structure having a second height; source and drain regions on said substrate and adjacent to said gate structure, said source and drain regions being of a first conductivity type and a first implant dosage; and an implant dopant of a second conductivity type and a second implant dosage below at least one of said source and drain regions, wherein said dopant forms a barrier between said at least one of said source and drain and an underlying portion of the substrate, wherein said barrier is graded such that the concentration of said implant dopant increases toward said gate structure and decreases away from said gate structure toward the central region of said source or drain, and wherein said second implant dosage is about three orders of magnitude lower than said first implant dosage.
 10. A low voltage, high speed semiconductor transistor device having low threshold voltage and reduced parasitic capacitance, comprising: a gate structure over a substrate; source and drain regions adjacent to and on either side of said gate structure; and means for preventing punch through between said gate structure and adjacent structures. 